The Catch-All Wipes

If your going to use cloth diapers there is no reason that you shouldn't also use cloth wipes. I mean, you already have to wash the diapers. Why not just throw in the wipes too. I'm going to be honest, there are times when all my wipes are dirty and I don't have any made up that I use the disposable kind but I would much prefer my cloth. They clean up so much more with one wipe than any of those thin things could do. Plus, I have a container of wipes in almost every room of the house for all kinds of messes. You never know when you'll need a wipes. Because they are so versatile and thorough I call my cloth wipes the Catch-All Wipes. Here are some of my designs:

One side is an ultra absorbent terry cloth or micro-fleece that catches the big mess. The other side is a super soft flannel in many fun designs that allows you to double check your baby's bum is as clean as it can be. One wipe per diaper change is usually all you need. Plus these wipes are double stitched so they never fray and will last though countless diaper changes and washings.

For storage these 8x8 inch wipes fit nicely into a disposable wipes container when folded in half. That's what I use but you can do whatever works for you.

For information on recipe for the wipe solution please visit my post Reuseable Cloth Wipes Solution

Reuseable Cloth Wipes Solution

If your using cloth wipes you'll need to keep them in a solution so they can clean well just like the disposable wipes. Here is a recipe for the solution:

• 1 Cup Water
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil or Baby Oil (I know some people out there don't like the smell of olive oil)
• 1 Tablespoon Baby Wash (I would recommend going the natural or organic route with the wash. My personal favorite is Dr. Bronner's Unscented Baby-Mild Pure Castile Soap)
• 2 Drops Essential Oil for Scent (I use lavender as it soothes diaper rash as well)

Mix contents together and soak your wipes in it. Wring out your wipes until they are damp to wet but not soaking. Store in a closed container to keep moist. 

I make a large amount of solution all at once so I don't have to make a new batch every time I make up wipes. I keep the solution in a large glass container (it used to be a glass milk jug) in my pantry.

I really like using cloth wipes and this solution. It does take a little more time than just buying the disposable kind but it saves me money and I think these wipes do a much better job. 

How to Clean Your GreenCheeks Diapers

The most common question I get asked is how to care for the diapers. As we all know, diapers can get pretty messy so a thorough washing is essential to diaper care.  Because the diaper shell is made from PUL (polyurethane laminated fabric) which can melt and warp the diaper under too much heat specific drying methods are just as essential as the washings.

Here is a step by step guide to the care of your GreenCheeks diapers.

1.  Wash dirty diapers every other day at the least.
2. Remove solid waste before storing in pail to be washed.
3.  If diapers have hook and loop closures (Velcro) secure with laundry tabs.See my post Laundry Tabs
4. Prewash or soak diapers in cold water to remove waste and fight stains.
5. Wash diapers on hot setting 
• Detergent specifically designed for washing cloth diapers is best. You can also use homemade detergent. See my post Homemade Laundry Soap. A clean and clear detergent can be used in an emergency but is not the best for the diapers on a long term basis.
6. Follow washing with a second rinse.
7. If diapers still smell bad after washing repeat steps 5 and 6.
8. Line dry diaper shells and covers or put in dryer on NO HEAT. Tumble dry  inserts, wipes, and prefolds in dryer with heat.
9. To remove stains place clean, wet diapers and inserts in the sun.

Note: Once every six months to a year diapers may be washed with 1/3 cup non-chlorine bleach in hot wash cycle (step 5). Chlorine bleach can be used for items that do not have colored fabric or PUL such as prefolds, inserts, and all white wipes.

How to Make Laundry Tabs

Before I started making my own diapers I used many different brands of cloth diapers trying to find one that fit my needs and my baby best. I did like Bum Genius diapers with a few exceptions. Besides being overpriced I didn't like when I would pull them out of the washer they would be in a long train. The hook and loop (Velcro) closures would attach to each other and be a giant mess!

This is a Bum Genius diaper. I have circled the laundry tab. It is sewn onto the inside of the diaper which would be very convenient if they worked. After a few washings the hook closures are fastening to anything but the designated loop laundry tab on the inside of the diapers during a wash. This, not only is very annoying, it damages the diaper that you just mortgaged your house to buy. (OK, an exaggeration but you get the point.) Diapers do not last nearly as long if the hook closures are constantly tugging as the fabric. When a friend, who has been cloth diapering for years, told me her solution it was like a breath of fresh air.
Below is a simple step by step guide to making laundry tabs for you GreenCheeks diapers so that you may avoid the dreaded diaper chain.

1. You need a piece of 2 inch loop fastener. The length depends on how many fasteners you will need.

   
       2.  Measure 1.5 inches in length.

   
       3. With a fabric pen mark the loop fastener as 1.5 inches.

       4. Cut the loop fastener at 1.5 inches where you just marked.

       5. Place your new laundry tab on the hook fasteners of your GreenCheeks diaper.

       6. Now that your tabs are covered your diaper is ready to be washed!

I put my laundry tabs in a small container by the side of my changing table. When I change a diaper I put the tabs on the diaper before I put it in the dirty pale so when I'm ready to wash my diapers all my laundry tabs are already in place. I'm been using this method for several months now and I can really tell the difference it makes for my diapers.

I hope this helps you out too!

Cloth Diaper Laundry Soap

The recipe below originates from Crystal Miller's recipe for homemade laundry soap . You can visit this website for questions regarding the soap. This is a very inexpensive recipe and averages out to about $.01 per load.

Here is some information about the ingredients:

The Soap:  The most typical type of soap to use is Fels Naptha.  It is an old-fashioned type of soap usually found in the laundry aisle.  The other options for soap are Ivory or another brand called, Zote. Or you can use Kirk's Castile Soap which contains coconut oil and helps with yeast build up.  Any of these will work.  If you use Ivory/Kirk's Castile Soap or your own homemade soap you will need to use the whole bar.

Washing Soda: This is not to be confused with baking soda.  They are not the same thing.  Washing soda is sodium carbonate or soda ash (baking soda is sodium bicarbonate).  It is a white powder.  Its purpose is to help remove dirt and orders.   The brand to look for is Arm & Hammer Washing Soda.  I find it in the laundry section of my grocery store.   Many people have a hard time finding this locally.  I know you can purchase it on-line, even through Amazon.com.  I would also suggest asking your grocery store manager if it would be possible for the store to get it for you.

Borax: Borax is a naturally occurring mineral: Sodium Borate.  It is a white powder.  It’s purpose is as a laundry whitener and deodorizer. The brand to look for is 20 Mule Team.  It comes in a 76 oz. box.  You should be able to locate this in the laundry detergent aisle.  Again as with the washing soda, if you cannot find it ask you store manager or look online.

Homemade Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap or one whole bar of Ivory/Kirk's Castile Soap or homemade soap (I used Ivory)
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup borax powder
water
2+ gallon bucket, for storing (I use an old laundry detergent bucket that has been cleaned and rinsed)

1. Grate the soap and place in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups of water and heat until the soap melts.

2. Add the washing soda and borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat.

3. Pour 4 cups of hot water into the bucket. Add the soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.
4. Let soap sit for 24 hours before first use and it will gel.
5. Store your laundry detergent in the bucket, covered. (I put plastic wrap on the top of mine, and I also left my long plastic spoon in the soap to stir it briefly before each use.) Use 1/2 cup per load of clothes.
6. You can make the soap scented by adding some essential oil. My favorite is lavender. I add 1/4 tsp. for a light scent.



There is a downside to using a soap recipe. Soap can build up on the diapers after many washes. This is why many commercial diaper companies do not recommend using soap. I have found that the diapers just need to be stripped when this happens. You can strip your diapers using non-chlorine bleach. I do this every 6 months to a year. See Stripping Your GreenCheeks Diapers.

If your not up for making your own soap I am a really big fan of Crunchy Clean Laundry Cleaner . It works very well, has fabulous scents and doesn't cost an arm and leg that the commercial diaper companies sell for their cleaner. I have had some customers tell me Charlie's Soap is also a good brand for washing cloth diapers and is comparable in price to Crunchy Clean. It is also more readily avaliable at stores and online.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Experimenting with cloth diapers designs and patterns

Well, my sore neck is proof of my dedication to my cloth diapers since my last post. I have been bent over my sewing machine every spare second I've had (which isn't much with a demanding 6 month old) to get some diapers done. I've tried a few different patterns and designs.

This (3 above) is my very first diaper I made. It's a double layer PUL with Velcro and a fleece lining. All these diapers are the same size: large. For children 22-28 lbs approximately. I made a pocket in the center of the diaper so the insert would fit snugly. I liked the pocket except when I need to separate the insert from the diaper the opening is dirty. If you'll notice this diaper there are dark blue tabs that seem to be added where the rest of the diaper is light blue. I used dark blue because that was the scraps I had. In the original pattern I hadn't made the tabs long enough so I had to add them as an after thought. Even with this error this diaper fit my 6 month old very well.

  This diaper (2 above) was the second pattern I developed. It is also a double layer PUL but with a flannel lining. As you can see the tabs are the same color. I also made a mistake on this one, which is fine because otherwise how would I find the perfect diaper? I made this diaper and all-in-one. It's a really great diaper when on my baby. I can even use it as a night diaper with no leaks. But it takes forever to dry. I line dry my diapers most of the time and this one takes 2x as long as the others. What I should have done was added a pocket so that I could turn it inside out so it would dry more quickly.

 

The pictures above are of the third pattern and diaper I made. This is PUL, and Velcro with a flannel lining with a pink dotted pattern. As you can see I made the tabs wider for better coverage around the baby. In a way the tabs are a little more like the Fuzzi Bunz diapers. I thought this was an improvement overall. I made a pocket on the top with elastic to keep the insert in. 

 

This is the most current diaper I have made. It's the same pattern as the diaper before this one but obviously much more adorable. The lining is flannel which I have found to work the best so far and it comes in such a vast variety of colors and designs. The idea to put ruffles come to me while working on a baby dress. I decided that if I could put ruffles on a dress why not a diaper?

Well, that's all for now. I have a lot of plans for my next diapers. I'm thinking of rubber ducks for some boy diapers and maybe some other festive themes. Halloween is right around the corner and I'm hoping to make something for the occasion. I'll let you know what I come up with. 

Until then,

Ariel